Multiple-piston explosive-engine.



No 680,985. Patented Aim. '20, mm.

I w. s. ,SHARPNECK. MULTIPLE PISTUN EXPLUSIVE ENGINE.

(Application filed Dec 13, 1900.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet ll ammul oz v UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

l/VILLIAM S. SHARPNEOK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO JOHN D. ROSS AND EVERETT W. BROOKS, OF SAME PLACE.

MULTIPLE-PISTON EXPLOSlVE -ENGINE.

SPEGIFICATION of Letters Patent N0. 680,985, dated August 20, 1901. Application filed December 13, 1900. Serial No. 39,751. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LWILLIAM S. SHARPNEOK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented a certain new, and useful Improvement in Gas-Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improvement in gas engines of that class in which a plurality of pistons are employed; and one of the objects of the invention is to make an engine of this class inwhich the pistons will have two full movements in each direction to each single rotation of the crank-shaft.

Another object is to utilize the main shaft as a valve to admit and exhaust the motive With these objects in view my invention consists in the peculiar construction, arrangement, and combinations of parts hereinafter described and then definitely claimed at the end hereof.

In theaccompanying drawings, which rep-I resent an embodiment of my invention in a simple form, Figure 1 represents a side ele' vation of my improvement.

, of which are formed the bearings 3 for the shaft 4:, the latter being provided with the fly or balance wheels 5, on each of which is formed a wrist-pin 5. Between the columns or standards 2 2 is preferably integrally formed the cylinder 6, which maybe made of any approved type and be provided with the usual water-jackets 7 and 8; but in the form shown in my drawings it is provided with open ends and with sidesbifurcated or slotted at 9 9. Within this cylinder are two pistons 10 10, one at each end, and these pistons are provided with trunnions or gudgeons 11 11, on which are journaled at each side of the engine connecting-rods 12 12, the inner ends Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the same. Fig. .3 is} a section through the main shaft at right angles of which are pivoted together at 13, forming a toggle. Between the joints of these toggles and the wrist-pins 5 are the connecting-rods 114, one on each side of the engine, and these form the means of transforming the reciprocating movement of thepistons and toggles to the rotary movement of the main shaft.

. The pivots 13, which connect the pivoted ends 15 and 15 of the toggle-arms 12 and the straddling yoke 14 of the connecting-rod 14, are extended inwardly and provided with a dovetailed slide-block 16, (see Fig. 4,) one for each pivot 13, which blocks 16 travel up and down in guides 17, formed in the columns or standards 2, (see Fig. 1,) and by this means the same amount of motion or length of stroke is insured to each piston. It is evident that instead or a dovetailed slide-block a roller may be used, if desired.

Between the pistons 10 10 within the cylinder 6 is formed an exploding and com pressing chamber 18, comm unicating with which is a port 19, common to both the exhaust and inlet. This port 19 is best shown in Fig. 2, and at its upper end communicates with an 'Linlet-port 20 and an exhaust-port 21, the main shaft at being cut away at 20 and 21, so as to alternately afford communication between said inlet and exhaust ports and the common lport 19.

It will be observed. that the ports 2O and2l" in the main shaft are quartering 'orat right angles with each other, or, in other words, they each communicate in turn with the common port 19 during. the same half-revolution, and during the other halfrevolution of the main shaft neither port is open, as during this time the charge is being compressed and exploded, as will now be described in detail.

From a study of my drawings it is obvious that each of the pistons makes two complete strokes in each direction while they are rotating the main shaft onlyonoe. This being recognized, the operation is as follows: Supposing the wrist-pins to be at their lowest positions, the pistons consequently drawn toward each other, and the charge compressed, the explosion occurs just as the wrist-pins pass the dead-center, and the pistons are thereby driven outwardly when the wrist-pins will reach the point marked (It.

I CC.

wrist-pins turning around to b, the-burned charge is pumped out. During the next or outward stroke of the pistons, when the" wrist-pins turn to c, the new charge is drawn in, and on the last quarter of movement, when the wrist-pins again reach their lowest positions, the pistons draw toward each other and compress the charge for the next explosion, which occurs, as before, just as the said wrist-pins pass their dead-centers and the toggle-joint begins to move upwardly again. As hereinbefore stated, it will thus be seen that the pistons move outwardly, then inwardly toward each other, outwardly again, and finally toward each other again all during one rotation of the crankshaft and that during this one rotationthecharge is exploded, the burned charge pumped out, a new charge drawn in, and-then compressed ready for the next explosion.

It is obvious that many changes may be madeand still retain the essence of myinvention, and of course Ido not,therefore,limit my invention to the exact construction shown, but intend my claims to cover all such fair modifications as naturally fall within the limits of my invention.

What I claim as new is- 1. In an engine, a cylinder, a plurality of pistons therein, a shaft, intermediate connections between said shaft and pistons; the parts being so arranged that the pistons have two movements in each direction for each revolution of said crank-shaft, substantially as described.

2. In an engine, a cylinder, a plurality of pistons therein, a shaft, and a toggle interposed betweenv said pistons and shaft, substantially asdescribed.

3. In an engine, a cylinder, a plurality ofpistons therein, a shaft, a toggle connecting said pistons, and a connection between said toggleand shaft, substantially as described.

4. In an engine, a cylinder, a plurality of pistons-therein,.a shaft, a toggle connecting c'saess saidpistons, a connection between said toggle and shaft, and means for guiding the move-.

said shaft and the central pivot of the toggle,

and a guide for the said central p'ivot; substantially as described.

6. In an engine, a cylinder, a plurality of pistons working therein, a toggle comprising two parts pivotally connected with said pistons, a shaft, a rod connecting said shaft and said toggle, the central pivot of the toggle pro= jecting therefrom, and columns or standards provided with guides for said. central pivot,- subs'tantially as described.

7. In an engine, a suitably-supported cylinder, a plurality of; pistons working therein, a toggle connecting said pistons, a shaft and rod connecting it with said toggle, the central pivot of the toggle projecting therefrom and having a slide-block secured thereto; and a column or standard having a guide for said slide-block, substantially as described.

8. In an engine, a suitably-supportedcylin der having slots therein, a plurality of pistons working in said cylinder and having pivots proj ecling through said slots, a toggle comprising two arms counected with said pivots and a central pivot connecting said two arms, a shaft and a rod connecting said shaft with said central pivot, columns or standards supporting said crank-shaft, and guides in said columns for the central pivot of said toggle,

substantially as described.

\VILLIAM. S. SHARPNECK.

Witnesses:

M. P. McGULLoUeH, D. L. Goonwrnmn. 

